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How to Record Audio on Mac

Record voice clips and longer sessions with your Mac's built-in apps

By Jennifer Allen Jennifer Allen Writer Swansea University, Staffordshire University Jennifer Allen has been writing about technology since 2010. Her work has appeared in Mashable, TechRadar, and many more publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 23, 2021 Reviewed by Jon Fisher Reviewed by Jon Fisher Wichita Technical Institute Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apple Macs iPad Record audio on your Mac using Voice Memos, QuickTime, or GarageBand.Voice Memos is the most basic, while Garageband is the most complex since it's a music recording app.You need a microphone to record audio. If you're using certain models, such as a Mac mini or Mac Pro, you'll need an external mic. This article covers how to record your audio on your Mac using Voice Memos, QuickTime, and GarageBand. How to Record Computer Audio

How to Record on Mac Using Voice Memos

For a simple voice recorder Mac app, you can't go wrong with Voice Memos. It's very simple and basic but perfect if you simply want to leave a voice message for yourself. Here's how to use it. Open Voice Memos via the Launchpad, Finder, or Spotlight. Click the red circle to start recording your voice. Click Done when you've finished recording your voice memo. Alternatively, click the pause icon to the left to pause the recording temporarily. Double click on the name of the file to rename it to something memorable. The file is automatically shared via iCloud to your other Apple devices. To share it elsewhere, click on the icon at the top right of the screen to share it.

Recording Audio With QuickTime

If you want a slightly more advanced method to record sound on Mac, QuickTime is the best built-in solution available. It gives you more control over where you can save the audio file so it's useful for more permanent records or longer recordings. Here's how to use it. Open QuickTime via the Launchpad, Finder or Spotlight. Click File > New Audio Recording. Click the red circle in the middle. Click the gray square to stop recording. Click File > Save to choose a name for the recording and where you want to save it. The file is now saved to your chosen folder and can be shared via conventional methods.

How to Record Sound With GarageBand

One final option for recording audio on Mac is with GarageBand. It's typically pre-installed on all Macs or you can find it for free on the App Store. It offers far more advanced features as it's a music recording app. Here's how to use it to record audio. Open GarageBand via the Launchpad, Finder or Spotlight. Click Choose to open a new project. Click Audio > Record using a microphone. Click Create. Click Record. If you want to change the source of your input such as if you have multiple microphones, you can click Input at the bottom of the screen and choose the relevant device. Click Stop to stop recording. Click File > Save to save the audio file or click Share to share it directly. How to Know What App Is Using the Microphone on Your Mac Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Record a Phone Call on iPhone How to Mirror an iPhone to a Mac How to Record Audio on Windows 10 How to Send Voice Messages on iPhone How to Record Voice Memos on iPhone How to Record Computer Audio How to Make Screencasts With Windows 10 Xbox Game DVR How to Record Your iPad Screen to Your Mac for Free How to Record Audio on an iPad How to Turn on AirDrop on a Mac How to Send Voice Messages on WhatsApp How to Use Problem Steps Recorder in Windows How to Screen Record on the iPhone 12 What to Do When FaceTime Audio Is Not Working How to Record Your Screen on Windows 10 How to Add Audio to PowerPoint Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies